Our annual Mardi Gras is coming up on fast – February 25th! And we are planning to “laissez les bons temps rouler” (let the good times roll)!! The fun starts at 6pm at Glen Flora Country Club and rolls through 10pm with live music, a Cajun-inspired buffet, silent auction, and live gaming!

Wear your sequins, feathers, beads, and masks!

Enjoy an evening of entertainment!

Waukegan Main Street office assistant Juan Garcia gives a tour of the March 2014 ArtWauk to introduce the Union Latina WKRS-AM 1220 radio audience to the Arts & Entertainment offerings available at the monthly event. Juan is on the radio one Saturday per month talking about what’s going on in the Main Street District. Give the Third Anniversary of ArtWauk with Juan a look and listen!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEWAUKEGAN, ILL. Nov. 25, 2013—Few memories endure like the ones you make while celebrating the year-end holidays with family and friends. You can make new memories to cherish while enjoying familiar traditions—or learning about traditions from other cultures—during HolidayWauk in historic downtown Waukegan on Saturday, Dec. 7. The event offers movie screenings, art activities and more for children and adults of all ages.

Highlights of the daylong event include photographs with Santa Claus on the stage of the Genesee Theatre, seasonal melodies from the Salvation Army Band and the lighting of the holiday tree in Jack Benny Plaza. Free parking will be available on the streets and all surface lots.

Family-friendly activities begin at 10 a.m. and run through 5 p.m.

“HolidayWauk gets everyone into the spirit of the season. It’s fun to see the decorated storefronts and to take part in craft activities throughout the Main Street District,” said Jane Ferry, executive director of Waukegan Main Street.

“At this year’s HolidayWauk, we want to celebrate the true spirit of the season by encouraging visitors to ‘give back’ to those who are less fortunate. For example, you may donate new toys to Toys for Tots at Your This And That Shop, or non-perishable food items for local families at Nele’s ArtGallery. In addition, kids can stop by State Rep. Rita Mayfield’s office to make cards for veterans staying in the LovellMedicalCenter over the holidays.”

All HolidayWauk events are free, unless otherwise noted. Here’s the rundown so far:

Holiday Coloring Contest. Bags containing a holiday coloring sheet, a set of crayons and a coupon will be available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Return completed sheets for judging according to age category for cash prizes. Your This And That Shop, 114 N. Genesee St.

Caroling led by Waukegan High School Tri-M Music Honor Society Chapter. 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Your This And That Shop, 114 N. Genesee St. Hot chocolate, cider and coffee will be available.

Salvation Army Band. 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., in front of the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St.

Screening of “The Santa Claus,” the 1994 Tim Allen comedy about an ordinary man who must take over Santa’s job when the jolly old elf is killed in an accident. 1:30 p.m., Waukegan Public Library, 128 N. County St.

Pictures with Santa, for children of all ages. Starts at 1:30 p.m., Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St.

Lighting of the holiday tree, featuring Mayor Wayne Motley and music by the Salvation Army Band. 5 p.m., JackBennyPlaza at the corner of Clayton and Genesee Streets.

Many downtown stores and galleries will offer seasonal sales and refreshments. Among them:

Horsefeathers, 129 N. Genesee St., is holding its winter sale with 20 percent off full-priced merchandise and special offers on body jewelry. The store opens at 10 a.m.

Your This And That Shop, 114 N. Genesee St., offers unique gifts for the holidays—and staff members are willing to haggle. Visitors can enjoy free light beverages to keep warm during HolidayWauk. The store opens at 11 a.m.

The Gift Cellar, 7 N. County St., celebrates its ninth anniversary with seasonal sales, hot soups and ciders to taste and much more, starting at noon.

Waukegan Main Street is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to rebuilding and reinventing Waukegan’s historic downtown business district by partnering with residents, small-business owners, property owners, developers, the City of Waukegan and entities such as the Waukegan Park District, the Waukegan Port District and the Waukegan Public Library. With programs that help small businesses thrive and events that bring people of all ages downtown, Waukegan Main Street is a driving force in creating a more vibrant downtown.

Thanks to everyone who came out yesterday for the 6th Annual Wine and Art Stroll. It was a beautiful day and everyone seemed to have a good time. We tried some new things out — especially with the check-in system — and I think most of it worked. I’d like to thank the 20+ volunteers helping to make your experience the best it could be, plus our sponsor Shaw Media (who run the Lake County Journal, Gurnee Life, and Great Lakes Bulletin) and WRLR, who rocked the CLC courtyard.

We’re gathering feedback for our “postmortem,” so that next year can continue to get better. We’d appreciate any feedback you’d like to give — email me at brendanalviani@gmail.com. Thanks!

Explore downtown Waukegan by enjoying a sample of wine at participating locations! Then afterwards, make sure to eat dinner at one of our fine downtown restaurants.

Admission is just $25 and gets you a souvenir wine glass, PLUS a $10 gift card, good at any participating location!

Check-in will be at MULTIPLE locations! You can check-in either at Jack Benny Plaza or near Dandelion Gallery/ Green Town Tavern. This is one of our most popular events of the year, so make sure to come out!